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Environment > Climate Change International Legal Regime > Flashcards

Climate Change International Legal Regime Flashcards

1
Q

What is the UNFCCC?

A

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

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2
Q

When was the UNFCCC…

a) adopted?
b) entered into force?

A

a) 1992

b) 1994

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3
Q

What is the objective of the UNFCCC?

A

To stabilise GHG concentrations, allowing ecosystems to naturally adapt, thus protecting food security whilst enabling sustainable development

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4
Q

What is does ‘COP’ stand for and what is it?

A

Conference of the Parties

The governing body of the UNFCCC. The Parties are different nations/states around the world.

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5
Q

What are the four main commitments of the Parties?

A
  1. Create national inventories of carbon sources and sinks
  2. Formulate policy to mitigate and adapt to CC
  3. Sustainably manage ecosystems
  4. Integrate CC considerations into all economic, environmental and social policy
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6
Q

What are Annex I Parties?

A

The world’s most developed nations, e.g. us

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7
Q

What two extra commitments must Annex I Parties make? In addition to the four main ones.

A
  1. Individually and jointly return their anthropogenic emissions to pre-1990 levels
  2. Provide financial and technical assistance to non-Annex I Parties (developing nations) and accurately report on it
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8
Q

Name three funds established to transfer money/technology to non-Annex I Parties.

A
  1. Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)
  2. Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)
  3. Green Climate Fund (GCF)
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9
Q

Who is the trustee of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)?

Are they independent or part of the UNFCCC?

A

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)

They are independent

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10
Q

What was the point of the Kyoto Protocol?

A

To quantify Annex I Parties’ emissions reductions targets and plan how to meet them

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11
Q

What is the quote that is used to support the Kyoto Protocol?

A

“A common but differentiated responsibility”

All Parties have a role to play in climate action, but some more so than others

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12
Q

In reference to the Kyoto Protocol, what does ‘CMP’ stand for and what is it?

A

Meeting of the Parties

The meeting of those Parties under the Kyoto Protocol, i.e. Annex I Parties

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13
Q

What is the difference between COP and CMP?

A

COP = annual conference of all Parties in the UNFCCC (most countries in the world)

CMP = meeting of the Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (only Annex I Parties, i.e. developed nations)

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14
Q

Regarding the timeline of the Kyoto Protocol, what happened in…

a) 1995
b) 1997
c) 2001
d) 2005

A

a) A strong political mandate was created at COP1 in Berlin
b) The Kyoto Protocol was added to the UNFCCC at COP3 in Kyoto
c) Tense negotiations were resolved, resulting in the Bonn Agreements and Marrakesh Accords
d) The Kyoto Protocol finally entered into force

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15
Q

What do the Marrakesh Accords provide?

A

A guide for practical implementation of the Kyoto Protocol

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16
Q

Why did the Kyoto Protocol only enter into force in 2005?

A

Two conditions had to be met:

1) Sufficient Annex I countries had to sign it, to account for at least 55% of total emissions from Annex I countries in 1990
2) 55 countries had to sign it

Russia finally ratified it in 2004, so it came into force 90 days later.

17
Q

What date did the Kyoto Protocol enter into force?

A

16 February 2005

18
Q

What are the three ‘Flexible Mechanisms’ of the Kyoto Protocol?

What is the point of them?

A
  1. Joint Implementation (JI)
  2. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
  3. Emissions Trading

The point is to help Annex I Parties meet their emissions reductions targets

19
Q

What is Joint Implementation?

A

Annex I Parties can earn Emissions Reductions Units (ERUs) by supporting a project in another Annex I Party.

20
Q

What is the Clean Development Mechanism?

A

Annex I Parties can earn Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) by supporting (financing) sustainable development projects in developing nations.

21
Q

What is Emissions Trading?

A

Annex I Parties can acquire ERUs, CERs, AAUs and RMUs through an emissions trading market

These are examples of ‘carbon credits’

22
Q

What is another name for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol?

A

Annex B

23
Q

When did the emissions trading market become available?

A

2008

24
Q

What criteria must Parties meet to participate in emissions trading? Give 5.

A
  1. All trading must be IN ADDITION to domestic actions to reduce emissions
  2. The Party’s emissions reductions target must be calculated/recorded
  3. Their national system and registry must be in place
  4. Reporting obligations must be upheld
  5. All Parties must keep a reserve that cannot be traded. This must never drop below 90% of its assigned amount.
25
Q

Below are some examples of carbon credits. What do the stand for and how are they obtained?

  1. ERUs
  2. CERs
  3. AAUs
  4. RMUs
A
  1. Emissions Reduction Units, through Joint Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
  2. Certified Emissions Reductions, through the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol
  3. Assigned Amount Units, the corresponding number of units to a Party’s emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol
  4. Removal Unit, units that allow the emission of one metric tonne of GHGs absorbed by a sink activity in an Annex I Party
26
Q

When was the Paris Agreement…

a) adopted
b) entered into force

A

a) 12 December 2015

b) 4 November 2016

27
Q

Where was the Paris Agreement adopted?

A

At COP21 in Paris

28
Q

What are the 3 main aims of the Paris Agreement?

What is the point of these aims?

A

To strengthen the global response to climate change by:

  1. Committing to a long-term temperature goal
  2. Enhancing adaptive capacity/resilience
  3. Ensuring finance flows are consistent with low emissions development

The point is to reach a global peak in GHG emissions asap.

29
Q

What does ‘CMA’ stand for and what is it?

A

Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement

The CMA are all Parties that signed the Paris Agreement - I think the same as the Parties of the UNFCCC (everyone signed it).

30
Q

What was the historic commitment of the Paris Agreement?

A

To limit global warming to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, but ideally to 1.5 degrees

31
Q

What were the main outcomes of the Paris Agreement? Give 6.

A
  1. The historic temperature commitment
  2. Parties have to communicate new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years
  3. CC-induced loss was recognised under the Warsaw Mechanism for Loss and Damage
  4. The enhancement of sinks (e.g. forests) has been encouraged
  5. Developed countries are to provide more finance to developing countries
  6. A Global Stock Take is to occur every five years from 2023 onwards
32
Q

What is an NDC?

A

Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement

Essentially emissions reductions targets that are specific to each Party

Environment (2 decks)

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